The Dominion FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 1915. TURKEY'S FATAL BLUNDER

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2353, 8 January 1915, Page 4

The Dominion FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 1915. TURKEY'S FATAL BLUNDER

. The decision of the Porte to throw in its lot with Austria and Germany will probably result in the rail of the Turkish Empire. The recent Balkan war .was disastrous for Turkey, but she just managed to retain a foothold in Europe. Once again she has drawn the sword, and this time she will almost certainly perish by the sword. It can hardly be doubted the lurkish Government had no desire to enter into the present struggle • but German intrigue " proved'too & a fi nd , ,^ e Turks were pushed into the fighting arena. They have entered the fray without adequate preparation and without enthusiafrhoPele -Ssly divided among themselves, and sedition and discontent are rampant. Their armies bave already met with disastrous tu er M a u *5® attem Pt to embroil the Mohammedan world in a Holv War for the spread of Pan-German-ism has signally failed. The Ottoan Turks have allowed themselves to become the victims of German treachery,;and the Ottoman Empire will have to pay the penalty. The Germans have practically taken over the government of the country, which has been reduced to the position of a German province. Tho people are now beginning to see that national disaster is almost inevitable, and we are told that Constantinople is in. a state of panic. The feeling of resentment against the who a>*e accused of havmg pushed Turkey into ruin;" is growing in intensity, and the populace is showiig so much indignation that it has been found necessary' to guard the Sultan's Palace. So gloomy is the outlook that, according to latest reports, the riVmerterl attack on Egypt 1 fbaffi?. ect,. as the troops are vf,anted for the purpose of dealing with troubles nearer home. Things qre going from bad to worse,, and now comes the news that the Russians have delivered a smashing blow /in' tho Caucasus by. whicii two' Turkish /,r° r -£ s • ,been nearly annihilated.- It would be a mistake, however, to belittle , the fighting qualities of Turkish soldiers. Theit courage and endurance have been proved. The v.-a re not foemen to bo despised, aad if well led and wellT'F 11 ! may be taken for grantthai; they will give a good accounts of themselves. Under German leadership and German discipline hey will not be easily conquered. rtiT V? 8 , frank 'y admit that lurkish troops are displaying exceptional qualities. -Turkey; will only have herself to, blaoaie when the day of reckoning tv! ti' • , „ war commenced the British , Government definitely assured her that" if she remained neutral her independence and integrity would be respected during the' yar and in the terms of peace, bince then she has been treated with great forbearance by the Allies in spite of/her obvious pro-German sympathies. But notwithstanding repeated warnings, the Porte's leanings towards Germany became more j pronounced, and culminated in a wanton attack on Russian Black Sea ports. This of boVtrso meant war. Perhaps Turkey expects, by the Help oi the Kaiser, to regain some .of the territory recently taken from her by her Balkan neighbours. This, however, is a vain ..hope. She has "backed the wrong horse, _ to use the words of the late Lord Salisbury, and .must take the' consequences. The result of her folly will probably be expulsion from ■Jiurope. "Whatever may be the immediate consequences of Turkish intervention, there is a general consensus of opinion throughout the world," says The Times, "that it means the end of Turkey." Tho Mohammedan religion is, not menaced by the Allies, but the of the Ottoman Turks in . Europe is doomed. "The Ottomans have pro-, fiounced their own doom," writes Mr. Lovat, Fraser. "They will be swept out of Europe, where they have been a curse tor five hundred years." Their co-religionists who live under the rule of Britain, France, and Russia have not the slightest intention of participating in a Holy War to save them. The non-Ottoman Mohammedans have gfasped the situation. They are not going to shed their blood for Germany. even to please the Sultan. The Ada Khan voices the sentiments of millions of Moslems when he points out that the action of Turkey is not the result of the "true and free will of the Sultan, but of Ger- . man officers and other non-Moslems 'who have forced him to do their bidding." Turkey has not gone to war for the cause of Islam, says the Aqa Khan, and she'has not only] ruined herself, but has lost her posi-. tion-as trustee of Islam. .The first steps towards the dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire- have already been taken. Britain annexed Cyprus Soon after Turkey commenced hostilities, and more recently Egypt has been , declared a British Protectorate, an'd the Egyptians have been freed from any duty or obedience to the authorities at Constantinople, The Turks will have to thank German intrigue and their own folly for the impending downfall of their Empire,